Elerib



(No Model.) 2 sheetssheet 1.

C. L. BAGHBLERIE. PROCESS 0F AND APPARATUS POR P-RBSBRVING P001).

No. 440,528. Patented Nov. 11, 1890.

WITNESJ'ES INVENTUM WW w@ tu: 'mums vanas cro.. muvcrm'um msmnamu, o. c.

(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

C. L. BAGHELERIB. PROCESS 0F AND APPARATUS POR PRESSE-VIN@ F001).

No. 440,528. Patented Nov. 11, 1890.

Fig. 2

5.06 i nv UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.'

CHARLES LEON BACHELERIE, on PARIS, FRANCE.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING FOOD'.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,528, dated November 11 1890.

Application filed September l1, 1890. Serial No. 364,649. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES LoN BACH- ELERIE, a citizen of France, and a resident of Paris, France, have invented certain Improvements in a New Process of and .Apparatus for Preserving Organic Substances, and especially alimentary substances, of which the following is a specification.l

This invention relates to a new process of preserving alimentary substances, as, also, to the construction and use of apparatus adapted for application in such process. Many attempts have been hitherto made to preserve alimentary substances-such as meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, (bef-more especially in view ot conveying` them longdistances. Most of these attemptshavefailed,thc freezingprocess alone having succeeded; but it is well known that that method is expensive, that it requires complicated fittings, and that the matter submitted to such freezing process loses much of its primitive savor and soon spoils when brought back to the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere. My new process presents none ot these drawbacks. It secures perfect preservation of organic substances for a considerable length of time and enables them to be conveyed to any distance in free air, provided such air be constantly renewed. It is very economical, for the substances I use are cheap and the treatment only lasts a few minutes. Finally, the alimentary products not only retain their nutritive qualities, but also their savor entirely unchanged.

The process consists, essentially, in treating (under pressure) meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, dac., by a homogeneous mixture of hydrochloric acid and carbonic acid, with this particularity, that the carbonic acid is only used as a medium for the hydrochloric acid, which it brings toa finely-divided state and which it causes to penetrate the matter to be preserved.

In order to apply my invention, I use, by preference, bicarbonate of soda, and I treat it with a concentrated solution of hydrochloric acid in larger quantity than would be necessary to set at liberty carbonio acid. This operation is effected in presence of the matters to be preserved in a closed vessel capable of resisting strong pressure. The reaction is very sharp. V The carbonio acid as fast as it is set at liberty converts the hydrochloric acid, which is in a Jfree state, into a sort vot spray and mixes thoroughly with it, upon which, by the action of the increasing pressure which results, both penetrate into the mass of the substances to be preserved, such substances being thus thoroughly impregnated. By means of this penetration the quantity of the preserving agent disseminated through the mass is very slight, since the chemical analysis of the substances preserved shows only slight traces of hydrochloric acid. This quantity cannot, therefore, be in any way injurious to health. It is, nevertheless, sufficient to secure the preservation for a long time of the matters treated.

I have stated above that the quantity of hydrochloric acid used should be a little in excess of what is required to set at liberty all the carbonio acid of the bicarbonate of soda. This condition is not absolutely essential, and the result might be attained by mixing the two elements in the proportions given by the formula for reaction-viz., one part by weight of hydrochloric acid for two parts of bicarbonate of soda. In fact, the action is so rapid and the production of gas so abundant that the hydrochloric acid is carried oit as soon as the reaction begins, so that such reaction may perhaps not entirely be completed-that is to say, there may remain a certain portion of bicarbonate unaffected. It is therefore impossible to adopt` strictly fixed proportions, but satisfactory results will be obtained with the relative quantities above specified. With these relative quantities the total quantity of reacting agents will vary, according to the capacity of the cylinder and the pressure required to be obtained. As a rule, a pressure of an atmosphere and one-half sultices, but it may reach two or even three atmospheres when it is necessary to penetrate bulky pieces. The apparatus should be made to resist that amount. of pressure. pared are afterward exposed to free air,which must often be renewed. The evaporation of The meats thus pre-A zey all the aqueous parts contained in them then begins. According as they contain more or less water, or as they are preserved with a more or less thick outer covering, they remain for a longer or shorter period in the moist condition desirable for edibles. For instance, pigeons may be eaten after a lapse of fortyiive days, beef after six weeks, eggs after eight or ten months. After that time these matters get drier every day, until at last they lose their natural moisture entirely.

In order to put my process in practice I have contrived an apparatus which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is a cross view, half in section, Fig, 2j`alongitudinal view, half in section, and Eigt 3 a horizontal section, of one form of. apparatus provided with the necessary parts. Fig. tis a. vertical sectional View showing a modiication of the apparatus, and Fig. 5 is aplan View of the same.

Inall these iigures the same ,lettersofj reference indicate corresponding parts.

Inthe metallic chamber B, constructed to resist a high pressure, supports A, lrunningon rails,are placed(two are shownin the example given,) of suitable form, which carry the matters to be treated, l These supports or carriages enter by-a door capable of beingv made airftightatpone end of the apparatus, remain therequired quantity of bicarbonate of soda isplaced. Above is placed a movable bowl C, intended to-receive by a tube D the hydrochloric acid. This bowl may be made to swing onpivots at each side. This swinging motion is `effected from outside by means of arod-E `with ahandle.v Around the chamber areplaced pipes F, perforated with holes, by which water is forced, when desirable, by meansof, a distributing-tap G. A dischargeopeningH atthe bottom of the chamber is closed bya plugwith balange-weight I. Finally, on the top of the chamber one or more safety-valves J are iittedas also an electric bell or other similar contrivance to show the limitoffpressure, which must not be exceeded, and which marks the end of the operation.

Fig. `3 represents at the side of they apparatus, strictly speaking, a chamber M, in which the operator `may sit, and communicating by a small window K with the apparatus.

The process will now be easily understood. The.,y bicarbonate of soda being spread over the bottom of chamber B and the carriages A beingrin p osition, allthe issues are closed. Thel desired quantity of hydrochloric acid'is passed into the bowl C by the pipe D, upon which by pulling thev rod E the bowl is upset. The acid falls all at once upon the bicarbonate of soda. Carbonio acid is set at liberty in abundance and mingles with the hydrochloric acid in excess, so as to bring it to a that the operation is terminated. The disv charge-valve H and the water-tap G are then opened. The water gushes out of the holes in the pipes F, washes the iioor of the chamber, and carries away the products of the reaction. The doors of the apparatus may then be opened, the carriages A drawn out, and the operation recommenced.

I have also contrived a portable apparatus essentially similar to the first, but on a smaller scale, and suitable even for households. It is composed of a cylinder B', of enameled cast-iron or lined with any other acid-proof matterand mounted on four legs- O. This cylinder is closedat the top by anautoclave lid P, held firmly down by a pressure-screw Q. It is provided with a discharge-pipe R, having atap S, a manometer or pressure-,gage T, and upon the lid may be a safety-valve (not shown) and an opening for theintroduction of the acid, which openingmay be closed by a screwplug. The bowl C for hydrochloric acid swings upon itst-wo pivots, one of which extends outside and is tted with a handle E. This bowl is of course acid-proof. A tube D of glass, porcelain, or other-'suitable material, supported-by holdfasts. V, con` veys theacidto the bowl. vThelnatterto be preserved is suspended from, one` orV more cross-bars X. It may also, according toits nature, be arranged on perforatedshelves'or gratings placed one above the other erin-any other suitable manner. The cylinderl B f is preferably covered outside with wood, bound together with hoopsZ. Two handles Wmay also be fitted to itin order to facilitate carriage.

In order to make usel of this apparatus, the desired quantity of bicarbonate of soda is placed on the bottom of thel cylinder B', after which the substances to be treated-are introduced. The lid is then iixed'down firmly by means of the screwv Q, andv by-the prcper opening the acid is introducedanddescends by the pipe D into the bowl C'. The yopening is then closed by its screw-plug, and by turning the handle E the bowl is upset. The hydrochloric acid falls all at once upon the salt of soda, setting at liberty anabundance of carbonic acid mixed; with hydrochloric acid in the form of spray, and having the-effects above described. lt-is evident that the above-described apparatus may be varied and modiiied in a variety of ways, both inconstruction and in form, without'in` anyway affecting the principle of my invention'.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure byvLetters Patent, is-s l. The new or improved process' of-'preservation of alimentary substances, which con-v sists, essentially, of treating them in a closed vessel and under pressure with a mixture of IOO IIO

gaseous or very finely-divided hydrochloric fthe perforated tubes for washing after each lo acid and carbonio acid, the latter acting more operation, substantially7 as described. especially as a medium for the hydrochloric In testimony whereof I have signed my acid,in the manner and for the purpose above name to this specification in the presence of 5 specied. l two subscribing Witnesses.

2. In an apparatus for preserving alimen- CHARLES LON BACI-IELERIE. tary substances, the combination of the me- Witnesses: tallic recipient, the oscillatory acid-bowl, a Gr. LOMBARD JOURVILE,

tube for conveying the acid to the bowl, and CH. BROWN 

